The first trailer for Steve McQueen's 12 Years a Slave has debuted online, hinting at a hard-hitting pre-civil war historical drama that could have a major impact in the forthcoming awards season.

Starring Chiwetel Ejiofor as a free black New Yorker sold into slavery, McQueen's film is based on the true story of Solomon Northup, who lost his freedom in 1841 after being lured to Washington DC with the promise of a well-paid job playing fiddle in a circus. From there, he was sold into slavery in Louisiana, and was not rescued until 1853, after a man he befriended managed to get word to his family. Northup's wife, whom he had left behind in New York, had to go to court to free him.

McQueen is the British artist turned film-maker behind Hunger and Shame, both of which starred Michael Fassbender, who returns in 12 Years a Slave as a cruel plantation owner. The film also stars Benedict Cumberbatch, as a Baptist preacher and slave owner, as well as producer Brad Pitt, Paul Dano, Paul Giamatti and The Wire's Michael K Williams. 12 Years a Slave will inevitably draw comparisons with Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained, which garnered a second Oscar for the maverick film-maker earlier this year (while drawing criticism from figures such as Spike Lee for its liberal use of the "N" word).

Northup eventually detailed his experiences in a book, also titled Twelve Years a Slave, which helped historians build a picture of the slave experience at the time. Following his rescue, he became involved in the abolitionist movement and lectured on slavery in the north-east US. Selected scenes from McQueen's film will premiere in the US on 20 July, otherwise known as Solomon Northup Day, at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York.